Coast Guard Cutter Harriet Lane returns home after 9-week patrol

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Harriet Lane is scheduled to return to its homeport of Portsmouth late today following a successful nine-week patrol conducting maritime law enforcement, alien migrant interdiction, and search and rescue.

During Harriet Lane’s patrol, the crew assisted in the repatriation of 279 Haitian migrants to Cap-Haitien, Haiti. The 279 migrants were transferred to the cutter for one night where they were provided water, food and basic medical attention before they were repatriated to Cap-Haitien the next day.

The cutter’s patrol also provided an excellent opportunity for more that 30 new crew members to gain experience and earn qualifications in their respective watch stations.

“The past two months have been an excellent opportunity to focus patrol efforts on the Windward Passage to detect and deter migrants from making the dangerous journey north,” said Cmdr. Jay Vann, Harriet Lane’s commanding officer. “We are proud that the Harriet Lane was once again a vital contributor to nationally significant missions.”

The Harriet Lane is a 270-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in Portsmouth, Va. The cutter operates primarily in the littoral waster of the United States and throughout the Caribbean to enforce immigration, fisheries, customs and drug interdiction.